Goonoo Goonoo Station, Tamworth

Goonoo Goonoo (pronounced gun-a-gun-oo) is the ultimate destination to stay, eat and relax. Located 25km south of Tamworth and set across 4000ha of land, this former sheep station had fallen into disrepair since its glory days of the 1830s. Simon and Sarah Haggarty fell in love with Goonoo Goonoo Station after it was purchased by Simon’s parents and set about to convert the disused buildings into luxury accommodation, a function centre and restaurant. The area features a number of heritage-listed and pastoral buildings, and even has its own Chapel and Schoolhouse!

Through the property’s 185-year history, numerous families have lived and worked on this land, leaving behind a unique history. Simon and Sarah have used recycled materials wherever possible throughout the renovations and the property has been painstakingly restored to its former glory, but with a modern twist. They explained the restoration of the station wasn’t just about repairing its buildings, it was also about preserving its stories.

The Accommodation

For groups looking for a trip away, the homestead offers 5 bedrooms and can sleep up to 10 people. It’s the oldest building on the property and arguably the most impressive – and it comes with its own pool and tennis court too!

There are also numerous 1 and 2 bedroom cottages that have been converted into luxury self-contained accommodation. I love how they have preserved the original details of the buildings such as the timber and stone walls, whilst adding in modern amenities such as air conditioning, an updated bathroom and a kitchen with everything you need.

The cottage I stayed in used to be the maid’s quarters. It has now been transformed into a luxurious 2 bedroom cottage with possibly the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in, a fully stocked kitchen with complimentary Nespresso coffee machine and T2 Tea and a large living area. The view is also second-to-none, offering sweeping views of the countryside from our front porch.

The chapel now hosts weddings and the schoolhouse has been converted into a bridal suite, where you can get hair and makeup done – making Gunnoo Gunnoo Station a one stop shop for events and weddings.

The former shearing shed has been converted into an event space which is the perfect place for a reception after a wedding. I love how they left the original walls and markings for a shabby chic look.

Glasshouse Restaurant

The Glasshouse Restaurant offers a delicious range of Modern Australian cuisine and overlooks the property from up high, making it the perfect place to enjoy a decadent meal or cocktail as the sun sets.

Glasshouse Restaurant offers a shared style menu (which is quite a new concept for Tamworth) with the menu changing seasonally. Peter Bourne aka “The Wine Man” from Orange did the wine list which is regionally based, with a few classic wines from France, Italy and New Zealand.

To start off our meal we had a terrine served with char-grilled bread and pickles and black bean dumplings.

This was followed by beef carpaccio and slow cooked short ribs.

By now we were pretty stuffed, so this light and fruity sorbet with coconut ice cream was the perfect way to finish dinner!

I honestly wish I could have stayed for a week at Gunnoo Gunnoo Station – it’s the perfect destination for a weekend away. I know I’ll be back, this time with a group of friends in tow!

Love Swah stayed at Gunnoo Gunnoo Station as a guest of Destination NSW. All thoughts and opinions are my own.